Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17
TWO CENTS.

that God governs in the affairs OF men. And II |
sparrow cannot fall 10 the ground without His |
notlce Is IL probable that an empire rise with
sacred writings, that except the Lord build the |
house, they Labor In vain that build it, | firmly
believe this; and also believe that without His
concurring aid we shall succeed In this political
building no better than the builders OF Babel |
We shall be divided by our little partial local in-
terestS, our projects viii be confounded and we
ourselves shall become a reproach and by-word
down TO future ages; and what is worse man.
KIND may hereafter, from this unfortunate In
stance, despair or establishing governments 10y
human wisdom and leave IL 10 chance, war and
conquest"
In the face OF all discouragements the fathers
OF the republic labored on for four long weary
months, In alternate hope and fear but always
with rugged resolve, never faltering in a sturdy
endeaVor Sanctihed by prophetic sense OF the
value TO posterity OF their success. and always
with unfinching faith I'm the principles hch make
the foundation OF government by the people.
AT last their task Was done. IL Is related that
upon the back OF the chair occupied by WASH
ington as the president OF the convention a sun
was painted, and that as the delegates were
signing the completed Constitution one OF them
said: II have often and Often in the course OF the
session. and In the Soicitude oI my hopes and tears
as 10 It's ISSUE looked AT THAT behind the President
without being able TO tell whether IL was rising or
setting, but now at length know that Il Is 4 ris-
ing and not setting sun"
We stand to-day on the spot where this rising
sun emerged from political night and darkness,
and in its own bright meridian lignJ we mark us
Its rays, and dreadful storms have made US
fear; but God has held IL in its course
and through Its ife-giving warmth has per-
formed His latest miracle in the creation OF
this wondrous land ana people. AS We look down
the past century 10 the origin Of Constitution
as We contemplate its trials ana its triUmphs as
we realize how completely the principles upon
which IL is based have met every national peril
and every National need, how deyoutly should we
affairs OF men," and how solemn should
be the reflection that TO our hands is
committed this ark OF the peoples covenant,
and that ours is the duty TO shield it from i'm
pious hands. We receive IL sealed with the tests
OF a century. Ii has been found sufficient in the
past. and in all the future years IL VIII be found
Sufnclent II the American people are true TO their
sacred trust. Another centennial day Will come,
and millions yet unborn will inquire concerning
our stewardship and the safety OF their ConSttu-
tion God grant that they may find IL unimpaired;
and as We rejoice In the patriotism and devotion
OF those who lived hundred years ago, so may
others who follow us rejoice In our ndelity and in
our jealous love for constitutional liberty.
THE INDEPENDENCE BELL
When the President was In the middle OF his
cupola OF the State House, which occupies the
place or honor Oh the structure where
In reposes that cracked aud ttme-stained
rang the hour OF twelve, another hour
had passed into history, and at each stroke rous
ing cneer went up from the chorus The President
was obliged TO stop talking for few seconds, and
surveyed the scene about MIN, which was, Indeed,
an impressive one.
last word, and at once retired TO his seat Before
the echo OF his words had died away there was a
cheering which was deafening. While the APP
plauSe was Still going on the cheer broke into a
patriotic air, and the din was terrific.
Justice Samuel +. Miller, OF the United states
Supreme Court, appeared, and, stepping quickly
TO the front OF the stand and facing lhe assem-
bed disnit aries, began the delivery OF his
memorial Grafton.
enabled to follow him, and all paid close and in-
tereSted attention 10 The Grafton.
Justice MiIler's Grafton.
Mr.. President and Fellow -Countrymen: The peo-
pie OF the United States for ten or twelve years
past, have cOmmemOrated certain days OF those
different years as the centennial anniversaries OF
important events In their history. These gather
ings OF the people have been in the localities
Where the historic events occurred. IL is Little
over eleven years since the great centennial anhi
versary or the adoption OF the Declaration OF In
dependence was celebrated in this city, where the
Congress sat which proclaimed It, The grand In
duStrial exhibition, The august ceremonies or the
day, and all the incidents OF the commemoratlon,
in no respect fell below what was demanded
by the Importance OF the occasion. May IL
be long before the people OF the United States
est In the Fourth OF July, as the birthday OF our
national LIE, or the event which then occurred
shall be subordinated to any other OF our national
history. We are met here TO commemorate an
other event in our progress, in many respects in-
ferior TO none in Importance in our own history or
In the history OF the word IL Is the formation OF
this day, one hundred years ago, was adopted by
the convention which represented the people
OF the United States, and which was then signed
by the delegates who framed ii, ana published as
the flnal result OF their arduouS laborS-of their
most careful and deliberate consideration-and
OF love OF country as unmiXed with Seihshnes5 as
human nature is capable OF.
HISTORICAL REFERENCES.
He then sketched the history OF the Articles OF
Confederation or the several States which con-
tinued during the Revolution the first attempt TO
amend them ApnaDOllS in 1IS,ti- and the fOrma-
tion OF the Constitutional Convention I'm 11S1,
with Washington as It's president graphically pre-
Senting their labOrious work until the instrument
was completed and signed, one hundred years ago
to-day He referred 10 the fact that Rhode Island
alone OF the states sent no delegates TO the con-
after its adoption Her ground OF objection was be-
cause Congress was expressly authorized 'to regu-
late commerce with foreign nations and among the
several states" because il declared that mo pre-
ference shall be given by any regulation OF CON-
merce or revenue TO the ports OF one State over
those of another nor any vessel bound TO or from
one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties
in another" 1nat the spirit which actuated
states OF the Union, may be inferred from the fact
that at no time since the formation OF the Union
has there been period when there We're not TO
| be found In the statute-bOokS OF some OF the
States acts passed in violation or this provision
OF the Constitution imposing taxes and other bur-
| denS upon the free Interchange or commodities,
discriminating against the productions or other
States and attempting TO establish regulations OF
commerce which the Constitution says shall only
| be done Dy CQe COnErtSS Ol lue Cullcu SIdltS.
During the session OF the Supreme Court which
ended in May last no less than four or fve decs-
ions OF the highest importance were rendered, de-
clarng statutes OF as many dinerent states To be
void because they were forbidden by this provision
| OF the Federal Constitution. lie referred TO the
uni1cation OF Germany as the most striking recent
example OF the influence OF commerce In bringing
| into harmonious action people whose interests
are common, while the governments by which
they are controlled are Independent and hostile.
He spoke OF the difficulties which the convention
had to overcome and quoted from Washington's
'the consolidation OF OurU nlon In which is involved
Our prosperity, felicity. safety, perhaps our ma
tiOnal existence"
He referred TO the fact that ten amendments to
the constitution were ratified within two or three
years after its adoption and then treated in detail
the objection which had been made 70 the powers
repOsed In the different branches OF the Govern
ment
NO DANGER FROM PRESIDENTIAL POWER.
As to the Presidential Office, Mr. Miller said:
''There Is no danger In this country from the
power repoSed In the Presidential ofce There Is,
sac experience shows, far, far more danger from
nihilism and assassination than from ambition In
our public servants. SO far have the lncumoents
OF the Presidency, during the hundred years OF It's
history, been from grasping or attempting 10
grasp powers not warranted by the CONSTITUTION,
and so far from exercising the admitted power OF
OF our political history during that time cannot
fail to perceive that no one or the three great de-
partments OF the Government-the Legislative,
the Executive and the Judicial-has been more
shorn Of It's Just powers OF IT crlppie9 IN a. tne ne
gard to the function Of appointment TO omce-per-
haps the most important OF the executive duties
the spirit Of the Constitution requires that The
President shall exercise freely his best Judgment
and follow its most sincere conviction In selecting
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